An always underrated part of our fantastic team, our hygienist Richmond has probably saved more teeth than the rest of the clinical staff combined. Let's look into how they do it.
Prevention is better than cure across dentistry and unlike a number of our clinical team who have many aspects to their roles, our hygienist Richmond is solely focused on prevention. By using a scale and polish, they aim to reduce the amount of plaque you have in your mouth (which can be quite substantial if you have misaligned teeth), thus reducing the chances of you developing tooth decay and gum disease.
Life benefits
We always recommend to our patients that they visit our hygienist Richmond at least once a year.
As you may have guessed, there are many benefits to undertaking a scale and polish treatment. For one thing, having the amount of plaque in your mouth reduced will improve your overall health. As plaque in the mouth has been linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer and even an increased risk of strokes, attending regular cleaning sessions with this member of our team can have long-lasting advantages.
Minimise risk of tooth loss
But how exactly does a scale and polish reduce the risk of your teeth falling out?
Well, as is the way with untreated gum disease, there can be extreme inflammation which can cause the teeth to not only become loose, but fall out altogether.
And while it may not seem like a probable outcome when you start to develop a mild bleeding on brushing your teeth, it can and does happen with gum disease more often than you think.
If you have a family history of gum disease, then in order to keep your teeth for as long as possible, we advise you to visit our team.
Tooth decay reduction
And of course, if you are having plaque removed from your teeth, there is a lower chance that you will develop tooth decay.
As a scale and polish will help to remove plaque that has accumulated in hidden parts of the mouth, this will not only keep your teeth free from decay, but will also ensure that the enamel in your teeth (both above and below the gum line) is protected and remains strong.
Our team can also ensure that your teeth have a lowered chance of developing tooth decay by applying fluoride sealants if we suspect that the enamel has been weakened by acid.
Fresh minty breath
While you may not associate a scale and polish with achieving minty fresh breath, this procedure of course has a lasting impact on your breath and the aesthetics of your teeth.
With less plaque in your mouth, your breath will remain fresher and also, your teeth will look and feel cleaner and brighter.
If you cannot remember the last time you attended a dental clinic to have a scale and polish, you need to book yourself in for one. Feel free to call our team at Sheen Dental for more information about oral hygiene and cleaning appointments.